Responses to the Declaration:
War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality

April 26, 1999 to October 23, 1999

The following are responses to the statment concerning the exploitation of Lakota ceremonies. Anyone is free to submit a response to this statement provided you include explicit permission to post the statement to the internet. Each response must be individually processed by the web masters so please be patient if this process takes a little time. We ask that people be respectful in their responses and address the issues and not individual persons.

Due to the size of the responses I have divided them into smaller sections. You may read the most recent responses below in reverse chronlogy (newest to oldest). There are also archives of comments:

You may also refer back to the site with the original statement. This will help those of you who visit frequently to check for new postings.

From: Philodice philodice@rni.net
Sent: Saturday, October 02, 1999

Feel free to post this.

How can a people who could not conceive the idea of owning the land, think that they can own spirituality? Many of my Indi'n brothers and sisters perform traditional dances and then go home and watch the television, drink beer, go shopping at the mall, ect. Never mind the fact that some of those "traditional" dances have only been around since the 1940s. Native American spirituality is not threatened by New Agers, charlatans, or Hollywood medicine men. It is threatened by our people adopting the ways that distract them from their path. Heck, I even own a computer! However, I try to use it as a tool so that I may be able to touch the lives of thousands. The ways of the current society numb the mind and close the heart. Creator loved the human beings so much that he gave them the Pipe; he gave the Lakota people the Seven Sacred Ceremonies. Can an angry heart feel love?

The Lakota people need to worry less about what other people are doing with their ceremonies and concentrate on their own spiritual pursuits. One cannot steal what you do not own.

If a person feels in his or her heart that he or she wishes to honor Creator, Mother Earth and all living beings, should we not help them and give them the tools if we have the means to do so? Maybe we should let them wander blindly or into the hands of charlatans. If a person feels in their heart that the ways of the indigenous peoples of North America are a good way for them, that does not mean that they are "playing indian". It means that they have found something that can open their hearts. I know many Traditionals that own TVs, Cars, cook on stoves, wash in showers, and wear store bought clothes. Are they playing white man?

My challenge to all who read this is to declare peace, declare love. War is a tool of hate and ignorance. Spirituality is of the heart and love. Let us join all of the colors of the wheel together so that there can be peace on this planet. War divides people. War kills people.

Mitakuye obwaniktaca........My people want to live......D. Thundercrow

From: David & Laura Gunyuzlu flounderhouse@earthlink.net
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 1999

{Do you give permission to have this posted?} yes!

As a Jew I have seen my own sacred traditions trivialized by non Jews as a Hollywood sensation.I don't know if I have the honor of having any Native blood in my background but understand the need to have tradition respected.I'm honored that people are interested in my own traditions as I have just come to understand them myself, but sometimes "new age"can be condescending about people with old beliefs and old ways and unenlightened but wiil pick a "cool" thing without understanding the background behind it.I know very little of Lakota beliefs so I must respect them. If I ever learn more for my own enlightenment I would hold them as sacred as my own. Why? One woed. RESPECT. As an American citizen I am ashamed of past and present injustices against your people and this disrespect just adds insult to injury.

I hope you know there are alot of European Americans who truly respect your traditions and I will let as many as i can know of this shamefull behavior.

Sincerely
David Gunyuzlu

From: Kirsti KŒrvŒg kirsti.kaarvaag@nrs.no
Sent: Monday, September 27, 1999

Yes, you have permission to post the message.

I fully support your views in this statement. I was at a powwow at Porcupine, South Dakota a couple of years ago, and I was saddened to see that almost everybody who participated in the dance were whites dressed up in Native costumes. It wasn't and isn't right, and it makes me angry. Hopefully you'll be successfull at making other Native Americans join your cause!

I was an exchange student in Gordon, Nebraska some years back (I'm from Norway), and I became really interested in the Native American history and culture, since I didn't know anything about it at all before I came over. From studying it a little bit, I truly see the need to protect it.

I want to ask your opinions on something. Right now I'm working on a project on ethnical tourism, and I am interested in hearing your views on tourism at the reservations, Pine Ridge in particular. Will a future development of tourism there improve the situation of the people, or do you think it will just contribute to a further exploitation of the Lakota culture? Do Native Americans want other peoples to come there? I've kind of gotten the impression from talking to some that they really don't want people to come there at all. Am I mistaken?

It would be really nice of you if you could take the time to respond to some of my questions. Thank you!

I wish you the best of luck in your work!

Sincerely,

Kirsti Kårvåg
e-mail: kirsti.kaarvaag@nrs.no

From: Jim Coleman yazoo@worldnet.att.net
Sent: Sunday, September 19, 1999

You have my permission to post my words.

To the warriors who have made this Declaration:

You are right. I pray that Wakan-Tanka will send ten thousand more warriors to stand with you in your fight. With His power, you will win it. I send my love to you in the spirit of brotherhood of all people.

To those that feel that this fight denies them something:

You are wrong. It is simply not necessary to intrude upon anyone's sacred rites to let Him into your heart. If you will only learn to hear Him, He will show you how to use His power in a way that is appropriate for you. He will give you the gift of your own rituals. This makes your relationship with Him what it should be, a very personal thing. He will guide you along the path that is the right one for you. There is nothing in this Declaration that prevents you from doing this.

I do not believe that these warriors want to deny anyone their spiritual being. In fact, I believe that they would encourage all people to develop and strengthen their relationship with the Power that created us all. They are only trying to protect gifts that were given to them long ago from being desecrated by those who are not willing to understand that the Power works through the individual's spirit, not someone else's ceremony.

These are the words He has put in my heart. I thank Him for them and I pray that I have spoken them truthfully and clearly.

Jim Coleman
yazoo@worldnet.att.net

From: JBlank2783@aol.com JBlank2783@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 1999

Yes you can post this. I hear what you're saying.....I personally feel anyone who looks to another for spiritual leading by the hand, is lost already. Why would anyone feel they have the one true way to listen/communicate to God/The Great Spirit or the prime mover or whatever you want to call it? How arrogant!!! I would suggest you might want to start over, and listen to you heart, if that is still what comes out, I would suggest you missed something. I too get annoyed with new agers selling 'sacred objects' (as if you could buy a sacred object). But maybe that's where they are right now. I don't know...it's impossible for me to put myself in your shoes...as it is for you to put yourself in someone else's .....

From: GPI Communications gpi@gpicommunications.com
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 1999 7:22 PM

Your web site is a terrible joke in totally bad taste. The idea that some spirituality can only be embraced by certain races is totally ignorant. Especially when the professed "rightful heirs" are 1/4 or less native american driving around in the shiny new ford pick up trucks, living in a house with air conditioning, cable TV, Coors beer, and an ATV parked out front.

Face reality.

ABSOLUTELY POST IT.

SIGNED,
WRONG DNA
STEVE IMHOF
Jake Levi Jake_Levi@SUTH.COM
Sent: Friday, July 30, 1999

I am strongly in agreement with the Declaration.

In other religions/cultures there are many things that are entirely inappropriate for non-members of the religion or even specific persons to do.

Among the Roman Catholics services maynot be done by women or non-ordained lay people, among Jews certain prayers and blessings are only appropriate to certain people and forbidden to all others, this is understood and respected by most cultures although there are those who transgress even among these religions.

Among American Indians certain practices are restricted to those trained and authorized for them, for any others to take on themselves the practices for whatever reason is wrong and is blasphemy. The fact that some have converted this into monetary soucres for themselves is totally unacceptable.

I urge people everywhere of whatever creed to oppose this desecration of Indian religion.

I am descended from the Cheyenne as well as whites, and while I am raised Jewish I also respect the paths of my ancestors and oppose any who seek to trespass on them.

This is a follow-up to my previous posting, and you may print both.

Nowhere in the statement of the declaration is the wasichu condemned, what is spoken out against is the inapproriateness in taking on to oneself those rites and traditions and practices to which they arenot entitled. The inappropriate practice is what is spoken against and I agree strongly with the writers of the Declaration. It needs to be stopped.

For those who wish to learn the traditions and practices, then learn, from the appropriate sources, within the appropriate constraints, donot take onto yourself that which you should not.

The commercialization of the sacred is blasphemy, in any culture and religion. The sale of Indian artifacts and such has grown endemic in the past ten years. Twenty years ago hardly any non-Indian knew what a mandela was, now they are are hawked at every flea market and gift shop. Right alongside them you find sacred pipestone. Wrong!

I urge everyone to stop and consider this issue closely, the trashing of a religion leads to the trashing and demeaning of all faiths.

I am not enrolled although my grandmother was Cheyenne, but I stand with my brethren everywhere on this issue.

My grandmother was kidnapped from her family and taken by white `missionaries' back to New England and it was over a year before she learned that she wasnt `under arrest', and never did make it back to her family, such things leave a long memory of bitter things among us. The misappropriation of our traditions/religion are just another part of the list to many.

jake levi
yaccov&juno.com

From: ChDesigns channel_designs@sprynet.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 1999

You have my permission to post - thanks,

I am of Highland Scot ancestry, 'born on this land but not of it'. I am also a practicing Druid (study and practice of ancient Celt ritual/symbolism/ancestors)

Lakota traditions are beautiful to me and I would never want to make less of them by pretending I understood them enough to teach sacred rituals of that Tradition no matter how profound my experiences have been. My understanding of different Native Traditions has been via Native Teachers. I wouldn't have it any other way. I have argued with those 'new agers' about their arrogance/ignorance on this issue, to an uncomfortable pitch.

May I add one more point here?

My People were conquered, displaced and stripped or any resemblence to their Pagan past. All our Priest/ess were murdered. All our Chieftains and Clan were destroyed if they didn't convert to new ways. I come from a people not so unfamiliar to the Lakota. You may say, "but that was so long ago, it isn't a legitimate gripe and what's it got to do with this discussion?" It has everything to do with this discussion. The Lakota still have their Traditions, mine are painfully lost. It is a great sadness to me. Who will teach me, who will show me the 'Old Ways'? If I could change the past, I would keep those Sacred Traditions pure and unadulterated if my life depended on it.

Finally, have pity on us Euro-Pagans, we are struggling with our own Traditions-Lost. Who, more than us could know how sacred this discussion is. Who, more than us, question and doubt what is genuine from our past. We have only our hearts to guide us, while the Lakota People have their Ancestors' Knowledge and Words. Many Pagans would understand the reason for this declaration and, honestly, envy the Lakota for having the chance to do what is right.

- Tessa Campbell

- Tessa Campbell

matthew maas victimstance@yahoo.com
Sunday, July 11, 1999

permision granted.

i understand the concept of "wannabe-s" from being one of a handful of white kids growing up in the inner city. i also see this monopoly of non-informed, confused literature on the market pretending to be "historical" and i seethe "new age" whoevers who believe more in wall hangings than visual seeking. i also have seen native americans selling medicine bags and drums with "made in china" labels on. as the saying goes don't judge a book by it's cover. but i do feel that a lot( if not all) of the native american spiritual beliefs are of value to our world. i was very intrigued by the white buffalo women story and even more so when i heard her description in the christian bibles book of revalation. (i wish i had a bible in the house to tell you the excact area but it is in the beginning few sections of revalation) i know that native american spiritual artifacts date back many years prior to any hint of christianity so that reafirms my believe that saint john wrote it as a way to discredit other beliefs and i also know that any one claiming to be of sound spirit with the spirit should be dry by the year 2000.

is this real? a silly rumor passed through the new age psuedo shamans or what? much like some of the other posts i had my mother die when i was young and i was left in the hands of people who live hate, loneliness and bitterness. i have crossed the dakota desert thinking i needed spiritual help. i was one exit from journying to rosebud. but i did not. i am white and have been told it is not my place. so i wander knowing how hollow the christian religion is. yet pushed away from the only one i see as re(lative)al to live.

eblis wakara
victimstance@yahoo.com

Astaiyi3@aol.com
Friday, July 09, 1999

Y'all can post this, I don't mind.

What a lot of Twinkeroos don't seem to get is the fact that most of us believe that we are the first people(ask me, I'd agree with that). As the First People, we were given certain instructions, as most know, depending on our Nation. To take those & twist them around for NuAge use is simply pathetic. No other word for it that I can think of at the moment.

Sign me....

Courtney Astai'yi Miller
Aniwaya

TotemFox@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 1999

Please feel free to publish my response.

I agree with much of what you say, but I do have one question. Doesn't painting all whites with the same brush contradict the concept of Mitakuye Oyasin?

I consider my self a person of mixed heritage. I have Cherokee and Seminole blood, along with German and miscellaneous eastern European. I am incredibly happy that I was introduced to Lakota spirituality. It is the greatest gift I have ever been given. I am honored to be one of the fire tenders of our (traditional) lodge, and don't feel that my connection to the Creator is any less because my face is not red or my blood is not pure native. I hope that you accept my comments as coming from my heart and that I mean them in a good way.

Health and Happiness to you and your family, We are all related.

Robert Syfrett - Long Beach, California.

Matt Campbell mcc99@yahoo.com
Friday, July 02, 1999

You have my permission to post my commentary.

Thank you,

Matt Campbell
mcc99@yahoo.com

---

I respect and honor the sense of disgust that this Declaration holds. Indeed, the abuse, murder, and exploitation of native Americans to the point that they have been virtually wiped off the face of the Earth is a crime against humanity that to date has gone almost entirely unaccounted for. Sadly, it is likely that no one will ever account for the acts of genocide committed against the people of North, Central, and South America, as most of those directly responsible are now dead. The politics of disease, war, racism, and cultural imperialism have done in 400 years what took tens of thousands of years to build up. It is a full and complete example of the ease with which things are destroyed and the difficulty with which they are built.

If Lakota spiritual beliefs are misrepresented by people of any race, that is indeed a travesty. The spiritual beliefs of Christians, Muslims, Buddhist, Jews, and other religious groups are also routinely misrepresented, one to another, and by practitioners of the faiths themselves, out of either ignorance or political motivations. There is no stopping the power of ego or ignorance in these affairs. The only recourse to correction these other faiths have is a written accounting of their beliefs. The Lakota tradition only recently (TTBOMK) has been recorded on paper so that truths that could be lost in misconception and miscommunication can be clarified.

However, I oppose strongly the idea that the Lakota beliefs are exclusively the property of (what's left of) the Lakota people. Religious beliefs are ideas; are ideas the property of anyone in particular? Inventions can be patented (they are born of ideas, but are not ideas themselves). Books and articles can be copyrighted, but the ideas therein are not anyone's property- only the right to re-print and distribute the written words. Academic circles for centuries have debated the question and it has been resolved by appeal to pragmatism: to use another's idea is fine, as long as that person is credited with it in footnotes or endnotes. Failing to do so is called plaigarism. This standard has been adopted because there are no ways to control ideas-- once they are in another's head, they are there. So the best thing to be done is to insist on a crediting of the idea to the author of it; even so, if it wasn't first published by the idea's originator, no obligation to cite the originator exists (but it'd be the decent thing to do).

And what of the practices of a religion? Some Protestant Christian churches adopted the Catholic church's communion rite, and changed the intent and some of the content of the ritual, while preserving the essential idea behind it as a rite of honor to Jesus and a way of ritually connecting to him in his final days on Earth. But lest anyone be fooled, the notion of a ritualized supper far pre-dates the Catholic church. Christianity took it from Judaism and the pagan religions of the time. Building a ritual around the sharing of food is older than recorded history. Tell me, who stole it from who? The Christian ritual of marriage is essentially a pagan ritual, with the cake and rice and magic circles (i.e., wedding rings), all of which have their roots in the pagan beliefs of Europe. All of the major Christian holidays: Christmas, Easter, and even Halloween (not so much anymore, but it used to be) were/are all pagan holidays: Christmas- the celebration of the birth of the Roman god Mithra; Easter- the Festival of Eostre (a.k.a. Estarte), Goddess of Fertility, hence the rabbits and eggs and stuff; Halloween- a pagan day of celebration for the death of the seasons, giving hope to the re-birth of the new seasons to come and to connect with the energies of those who have passed on). I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Similarly, the sweat lodge is the oldest religious practice known to man that can be confirmed via archaeology. Sweat lodges have been found all over the world in all kinds of places, and are found in all kinds of societies. The notion of returning to the womb to find the wholeness and healthy aspects of oneself before the corrupting influence of ego, passions, and the trauma of separation from the mother is so old that it may be said to signal the dawning of true spiritual awareness in a community or generally, of Man. Can the Lakota claim the sweat lodge as their exclusive property? No, they can't. No more than the Catholic church can claim the Last Supper as exclusively their rite, or Christianity the marriage rite as theirs.

My truth is that the Lakota belief system provides people as individuals and as communities with the tools needed to recover from trauma, grief, and pain. The whole system's beliefs seem to center around inclusiveness, wholeness, and loving acceptance of one another in the world, and of the damaged, parts of the self. What a fantastic set of beliefs and practices! I have yet to come across a religion that not only espouses these beliefs, but actually gives one the tools to put it into practice. There is no sweat lodge in Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism or Islam. Not to be bashing these fine faiths, my biggest sticking point with them all is that their practices do not encourage people to go into their wounds and claim them, or to find a way to bring authentic healing. They instead encourage people to center their energies around cosmology or ontology and looking to a future of being "saved" in some way, shape or form, either by a mental state or by a divine being, all the while paying little or no attention to asking the practitioner to go into himself and touch his wounds and find healing. Praying, chanting, and meditating are fine things; but they don't provide the real tools of community support and the powerful rituals needed to build a safe space and a container for important emotional processes that help people with their fears, grief, shame, and anger, as well as their joy. They generally assert dogmas and want people to commit to points of view, excluding other points of view as invalid or wrong. I find none of this in the Lakota belief system; instead I find inclusiveness, compassion, and acceptance of others and their beliefs. "Mitakuye Oyasin" are not just catch-phrases; they are indeed words to live by, and healthy ones at that.

I want to stress to the Lakota people that those of us non-native Americans that use the Lakota's ideas and practices do not do so with a sense of stealing or a desire to misuse these ideas and practices; in fact, we honor them at every turn and do not neglect to credit the Lakota people for them. But to insist that non-native Americans cannot have access or use of these beliefs or rituals is at once an unenforcable request, and secondly is in my opinion inconsistent with the idea of "we are all related". How will it serve the Lakota to keep for themselves these ideas and rituals? With few people practicing them, is there not a much higher chance they will die out? And what good will that do? None that I can see.

To my Lakota brothers and sisters (I am a caucasian, but consider all people to be my brothers and sisters), I ask that if you find yourselves offended at the fact that non-native Americans are using Lakota ideas, that you reconsider your beliefs around this issue. I also ask that instead of trying to keep the energies of these beliefs to yourself, that you involve yourself with these groups or people that you are currently not happy with and see if you can find a way to connect with them and support them in their healing work. Your presence and knowledge will most certainly be welcome.

Mitakuye Oyasin!

Matt Campbell
mcc99@yahoo.com

EdAvalon@webtv.net EdAvalon@webtv.net
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999

I began writing this letter to you, not realizing just what you are trying to get across in your "Declaration of War."

But, along the way, I began to realize, that, I have the same beliefs about the "Charlatans" that you do, or atleast, that you seem to.

If you continue reading this, I think you will find that I made your point by making my own point.

I am really weird sometimes, in that, I get to these moments of "Clarity" without realizing I have gotten there, until after I have made my point, and then I realize that what I was upset about, is the "EXACT SAME THING" the other person is upset about that I was arguing about in the first place, and never needed to get upset with them about it.

Sort of like that line in the movie "Cool Hand Luke,"......"We seem to have a failure to communicate." Sometimes, it is the story of my life.

I have these attitudes and beliefs that I am bound and determined that no one is going to change, then I find out later that we had the same attitudes about those things all along!!!!!!!;-)

Maybe this is my main barrier in my search for my own spirituality, that I need to see beyond my attitudes, and see others beliefs as they relate to my own.

Well, anyway. Please read what I have said, see what you think, and tell me what you think.

You have my permission to repost if you would like to.

{This sounds like a bit of "Hate Monguering."

{From what it says at the bottom of the "Declaration of War", all of the members that began this seem to be educators. If that be the case, then you should realize that not all of the Whites or Blacks or Yellows or even the polka-dots have or are trying to profit off the religion of the "Original" American's.

{This term,("Original American's") is a correct term, in my opinion. Especially since, anyone born in any particular place is "Native" to that place. Their parents may not be, but, they are.

{For one to sit back and to make a "Blanket" statement say that "All" of a particular group are trying to exploit something, means that the person(s) making that statement hasn't done their homework properly.

{YES, there are MANY charlatans out there. And, YES, many of the White people(s) go to them for whatever reason. But, have you tried to ascertain the reasons why?

{This Declaration seems to say that, "NO" you haven't.

{Have you tried to understand why "New Ager's," among others, are flocking to these people?

{Again, it sounds like another "no."

{Let's look at this a moment.

{For centuries, the Christian Leader's of the world have said that "EVERYTHING" is a certain way. They have said, that, if you (the plural you) do not believe as we say you need to, you will go to a place, when you die, that is horrible beyond anything you could imagine.

{For many of those centuries, everyone believed this to be true.

{Then, the Europeans came upon the "Original" Native Americans. And, all of that began to change. It began to change, because, for centuries, the Catholics Leaders said that the Earth was flat and that if you went into the ocean too far, you would fall off. Now, the people "KNEW" that Rome was wrong. So, the process of the Whiteman thinking for him/herself began.

{As the centuries wore on, some of the whites began to realize that the Original American's had it correct. That we should all treat the Earth and one-another with respect.

{Just as the Fact that there were Whites that helped Black people escape the slavery of the South to go to the freedom of the North(which in some cases was just another form of slavery), there Whites who raged against the Government of Washington D.C. for the exploitation of the Indian people and of the land.

{Now, with the felling that We(that is ALL people everywhere) are close to an ending of some kind(name it what you will, every religion has a name for it, be it "Revelations" or be it "The Great Purification"), people are looking for a way to get back to what the Creator meant for US(everyone on this planet) to be. That being "Spiritual" Individuals, and "LOVING" individuals.

{So, some people find their way to Charlatans. They don't mean to be going to them, that is just what happens when they don't know who to go to. They just know, in their "HEARTS" that the Original Americans are some of the MOST Spiritual people the World has ever know. So, they desperately search for ANYONE who might be able to teach them how to get to the point that they feel they need to get.

{When you have people who are desperate for something, you are ALWAYS going to find someone willing to exploit that which they seek.

{You know something, I think I just made "YOUR" point, in my own words. Boy, I sure can be so thick sometimes.

{But, I stills think I needed to say it. There are many who might take your Declaration as a blanket statement (which I now think I just proved that it is not), to all who might seek out knowledge, even though that seems to Not have been your intention.}

Through much LOVE in the Spirit.

Ed Pfaff

LOVE!! These four letters have more meaning and "POWER!" than Any Other word in all the Univrse

From: Jamie Chiccarello JChiccarello@deltacp.com
Sent: Monday, June 28, 1999

post if you want---don't if you don't

I understand your anger and concern. Nothing motivated by money, ignorance, or desire (of acceptance or otherwise) can be considered genuine. I don't think others being phonies reflect negatively those who are not. If you know who you are and where you are from, and manage to win the fight to pass sacred knowledge and traditions of your people, and an understanding of them down to your people I think you have fulfilled a difficult task...Waging a war against the non-genuinely motivated ones is a waste of your energy. There will unfortunately always be people who take good and abuse and twist it and selectively use bits and pieces, to prey upon the weak and vulnerable, it is evil, but it is real. You would have to render their targets unapproachable to win such a war (an impossible task, but one worth the effort)..It would suffice to state that you do not promote or support the activities of such a groups, but to wage war is a losing battle, and not an action of the spiritually evolved..I think part of what you are witnessing is lost spiritual rites and traditions of non-Indians, and in some instances among Indians, yet these remain basic needs. I don't agree that anyone should participate in ceremony or ritual without understanding the prayer or the significance of their role. Or at least recognizing that there is one and wanting to understand, if they are being guided by a spiritual leader that does. I also don't believe that you need to be an Indian to be a healer or to participate in a an Indian ceremony or ritual, nor that an Indian can't participate in a non-Indian ceremony or ritual. I do believe it is a persons intentions is what is important, and not the body they were born in. A spirit/soul has no physical limitations except the eyes of others that rest upon its shell and can't see beyond the form it is occupying, and spiritual endeavors should not be limited or accepted by this criteria alone either. May whatever name/s you call the higher spirit/s be with you, your people, and all people. And hopefully we can awaken one day as one, and if not, at least respect and appreciate our differences, and work as one. It is all humans that need healing, or we may lose our precious mother. There is a righteous cause to expend energy on. OUR MOTHER.

jc

From: GREENSINC@aol.com GREENSINC@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 1999

with honor, you may post this message

Allow me to tell you about a Medicine Man named Dennis.

He is not a Lakota.

For 50 years he has lived in a non-native environment soaking up the pre-conceived glories of the white mans riches. He has accomplished "things" that men dream about and never come close to acheiving. His family loves him, his friends laugh with him, his hundreds of employees are grateful & admiring of him, and the New York Stock Exchange thanks him for the gains he has provided. On paper, he has everything...a year ago he found out that his soul had nothing.

He was not looking to be found. He was quite content with his life and looking forward to his retirement years and finally doing the things he had always wanted to, but didn't have the time for. On Dennis' birthday his neice Maureen, an all knowing, extremely spiritual and advocate of the Lakota Indians, gave him a book by Michael Harner, "The Way of the Shaman". She knew this book would speak to him, if only he would read it. Maureen's intuition and self education of Lakota spirituality knew that Dennis had "something special" about him. The fear in her kept her from approaching this high powered businessman, but the love in her spirit kept her focused on her Uncle Dennis reading this book. And discovering who he really was.

The book was finally read by Dennis. What happened after the book has changed his life forever.

Shamanism and his Spirit guides, which include (with respect) Lakota Elders, have taught him who he really is. They have guided him to the medicine man within his soul and patiently observed a man who was, become a man who was supposed to be. His biggest obstacle was self doubt and the limitations of being conceived as a new age white man with a mid life crisis. I assure you, this is not so. Dennis did not ask for this, he was blessed with this gift of healing for others at no directive of his own. What is my role in all of this? I write with intense passion as a witness and as a recipient of his healing gift. With the spirit guides that work through him he has healed many... all to his astonishment each and everytime. Some have been minor and a few have saved lives.

Dennis still goes to his office everyday and keeps his "place in society". He would give up everything for his "teacher" to reveal himself. He knows his healing gift is nothing if not taught with honor and respect. He's currently living a "heyoka" life, not by choice however.

His mind, body and spirit has been given to the Lakota sacred traditions and spirtual practices. He lives and breaths for Lakota spirituality and knowledge. His home now reflects his passion for Lakotas and all Native Americans. He came to life because of his worship for what Lakota culture brought to him along with the Lakota Medicine Men he has read about. Dennis believes in himself and believes in his spirit guides that have led him and kept him on the path of truth for, (my words) the chosen one that he is.

He is not looking for financial reward with his gift. Nor movie deals for his story. No book to be written. No followers to be acquired. He wants to be embraced by the Lakota people for who he is, not by what he is not. As I opened with this letter, he is not a Lakota... but his Lakota Spirituality keeps him focused on his path to whatever his healing gift is suppose to be for all two-legged. White, brown, black, red, etc.

Dennis does not long for the man he used to be, he longs for a Lakota Medicine Man to guide him. To teach him, so he will learn what his healing gift is best intended for and to understand the power of its misuse. His efforts in finding this guide have been difficult, but he remains on his path. He wants his "tiyospaye".

It is now in the context of the Lakota Declaration of War that I ask...what would you do if you were Dennis?

Please allow your compassion for the Four Colors and the sharing as one with our Mother Earth.

Mitakuye Oyasin.
signed,
A friend of Dennis, his "nagi".
greensinc@aol.com

From: RICH AND CONNIE twohawks@gte.net Sent: Friday, June 18, 1999

You May Feel Free To Publish These Words!

Hau Kola's.

All of my relations!

Right now I am getting ready for Wiwayang Wacipi. I feel the prayer of the people and the song of life of the tree! I live these ways and many time as is in life I fall down. My brothers and sisters pick me up and I in turn pray that I am there for them if they should fall.

To me in my prayers I am nothing but a pitiful two legged. Many challenges in life we all must face, and together we are in this world mess TOGETHER! We must set ourselves for examples for the children of the Nows, Tomorrows, those not born and those on the way. We must heal the hoop that we All belong to.

For those who think life is so hard to live, maybe a trip to the Reservation might open up the eyes. My family get very little to no money. It is not free ride for us to live these ways. But what we experience is that the ways that we live, People want our pretty things but do not want us. People want our dream catchers. They put them on their rear view mirrors and forgot that this is a medicine. So how many of these people are asleep driving having dreams behind the wheel of a car. Hmmm! Maybe that's why there is so many accidents.

many of us are aloud to pray and speak our native language once again! But we still face racism in the todays. Many other cultures do likewise. People forget that we are in this together

.

For me to pray to Tungashilla. (For me to pray to God) In the way of Wiwayang Wacipi. This would of been a 10 year prison sentence. 20 years ago the US Got. made this sacred rite of our lawful for us to pray to God! Many of our sweat lodges in the iron Houses are in front of a Gun Tower. The only thing stopping a bullet in a thin blanket covering our lodges. We have to fight with many to be aloud to pray.

WE ARE THE ONLY RELIGION in the world today that need a number to pray. You all think about that one! In this land of the free and the home of the brave we need a number to pray. Sometimes I feel like a dog that has to pee in the corner on paper. Count your blessings. Wicca and other earth followings the influence comes from Europe. First Nation Native American comes from here. Yet we still are surpressed from our AMERICAN RIGHT TO free speech and prayer.

Many Native American people served in the US Military. Many died to set this country free to pray. Even to complain about how we natives have all the good things. Maybe we have something you do not have. We know our hearts, our love for freedom, our desire to live as fruitful people in a land that once was ours to roam freely.

What needs to be done is for ALL OF US to live for the children and fight for the right for all of us to live together instead of hurt and destruction of life.

I was taught to pray for Health, help and happiness. We also need the gentleness that we lost along with the innocence of youth and life. I pray that these words find you with positive light and that you take to heart the good and that we can make this world stronger and better for our next generations and stop the talk! We need action and not paper! When I am in he Hochaka this year I will pray for the Children and for the people so that the children have a place to live, learn, and play.

Yani pi kta ca lecamu welo
(I do this so that the people may live)

Cetan Nunpa
3/4white 1/4Apache
MUTT!

From: Linda Cook lcook@synergosinc.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 1999

You have my permission to post my letter.

I am a white 41 year old woman who has a story to tell. I can only pray that my story will soften some harden (and rightly so) hearts out there.

When I was growing up in Nebraska, I, like so many children of this world, grew up without the loving touch of a Mother and the unspeakable sexual touch of a Father. While life was very difficult for me as a child, I got through it as a result of my relationship with my Grandfather. My Grandfather would comfort me whenever I needed him, he could caress me and sing me his songs. He always had stories to tell. My Grandfather would tell me of the days of the old, when there was freedom and beauty surrounding him. My Grandfather told me more about the Lakota people I had come to know. My Grandfather provided that connection I have had all my life with Maka.

I left my Grandfather behind for awhile and traveled searching for the meaning of my life. At the age of 37, my Grandfather brought me back and gave me 5 stones for my first sweat lodge. I have come full circle, back to the Tunkashilas, who as I have discovered, never left me. I am blessed ten-thousand times over. To imagine anyone or anything taking away from me this way to pray, brings me the grief I can only imagine the Lakota people experienced when it and their lands were taken from them. I know there are those people (full-bloods as well), whose hearts are not pure and have a different agenda then praying for the good of all people. My heart cries out for these spirits who have lost their way, it could have so easily been me. Now my Grandfather is very old and it is possible he may not be around much longer, but I know that even should he pass on, he will remain in my heart. He is my connection to all the Sundance trees who are in the hearts of the people. He is my connection to the prayers that surrounds the tree of life.

My Grandfather walks in front of me now, where ever I go. He still sings his songs to me when ever the wind blows through, for you see, my Grandfather is a Cottonwood tree.

Linda Cook

Library Lab User labasst@cscu.csc.edu
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999

I give permission for you to post

I have Sundanced for six years, under Wilmer "Stampede" Mesteth. I have great respect for him and his wife and children. This great man does not wish to offend anyone. He is only trying to protect our way of life, from exploiters, new agers, wannabees. If this is offensive, then so be it. As a Sundancer I speak from my heart, and I come to you in a good way. Wilmer is like Chief Crazy Horse, in a way. Crazy Horse was also trying to protect his people. I ask you to look to your own background and find your balance within your own peoples ways. Creator chose to make it this way.

For example: I am not allowed to view certain aspects of catholic rituals because I am not baptized, nor did I grow up with their sacred rituals. I have no right to go to where the pope resides to take pictures of his holy sacraments and rituals, and try to sell books, open websites and sell lakota terro cards, etc. Is anyone hearing what I am saying.? Your ancestors came to our lands and try to kill our people for land, in the name of industrialization and progress. Its like asking why the Jews don't trust the Nazi's. I know its not your fault and you cannot change what your ancestors did. But please leave the native people alone. I am asking you in a good way, dont romanticize us and exploit us for profit and gain, don't marry us to take the blood down to even lower levels. We are a sacred people trying to live our lives in harmony, let us alone. OUR SPIRITUALITY IS NOT FOR SALE, NOW OR FOREVER MORE. WE HAVE SURVIVED 500 YEARS OF GENOCIDE, can't you see it in your hearts to leave us alone. You always harm indigenous people, in the name of assimilation and progress, you only hurt us by bothering us. We as a people, don't want you attending our sacred rituals, because there is always a bad apple in the crowd, who ruins it for all of you. I will also admit there are a few money hungry native people who will remain nameless and forever full of shame in our people's eyes, who will sell you our ideas and our sacred rituals, because inside they are lost.

If we allowed one white to enter, then we would be inundated with all the crazies out there, believe me there are millions. I vow to protect our sacred ways with my life. I am looking out and letting our spiritual leaders about all the people who are the exploiters, I have a team of friends who are also searching the websites and we are doing our own research and letting the elders know. So our elders are being informed, of all the people who are exploiting and LAWS have been passed on many reservations to keep your prying eyes and exploitative ways off our reservations. It has come to that, because of the few who wish to ruin it for the ones who are sincere. I have met a few, but it doesn't change what has occurred. Thank-you for your attention. I will later share with you a poem I have written, which is copywrited. It is about this subject, and maybe it will allow you to view this issue from our perspective.

spark51 spark51@xs4all.nl
Sent: Sunday, June 13, 1999

I give permission to post my mail.

Hai,

You have absolute right.

Never you must a blankman into come to your spiritual culture.

Everything what blank people have doing to you in the past, that can never comes

allright.

I hate it that blankman stole your land in the past.

Greetings,
Evert Vonk
Amsterdam, Holland
(skin is white, but the heart is indian)

JENNIFER L. KAYS sappa@prismnet.com
Saturday, June 12, 1999

There are more than 400+ different native traditons with each having their own way of conducting ceremony. Over the years, I have participated in many Lakota ceremonies with Lakota leaders. Each were done differently depending upon Spirit,leader, situation, and participants.

For one group of people to conclude that because others are dong ceremony differently than they are, that the others are wrong and in violation is absurd, infantile, and narcissistic. These people are acting out the same shame,hate, fear, and bigotry that exists in Christianity. They have become like their oppressors.

Ceremony is NOT about form. Ceremony is about Spiritual intent, conncection, and experience. If Spirit and tradition are truly a part of who and what you are, then who can take it from you?!

When you live for the approval of others, you become their prisoner.

gntlw20@excite.com (print this on your response page if you want to)

From: Neal Steiger n_steige@tec.nh.us
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 1999 2:22 PM

I am, as far as I know, not a native, if by that means I trace my parents' parents back to another land.

I can see why others, mostly wasichus like me, are disturbed by the declaration. It's strong words. It wasn't meant to be nice, as far as I can tell. I believe it must have meant to be truthful, and to perhaps to deal with unacceptable behavior.

To get the kind of reaction it has gotten makes me think it must be powerful. It goes to my heart as an admonition not to fool with something sacred and especially not to use it in a selfish, disrespectful or hurtful way. I do not think the warnings and threats obnoxious; I think they are appropriate. To me, they say, if you behave in an inappropriate way, there will be consequences. That makes sense to me.

I can understand why terms like "New-Age Shamans," "charlatan," or "wannabe" may be uncomfortable for some. So be it. They refer to behaviors that are disrespectful of a people.

Perhaps the hardest for some to understand is the "wannabe" one. Often someone of white European culture may think it such a respectful thing to wish to fall in love with its romantic, stereotyped icons; and then such a person is amazed that the object of that romanticism either laughs or is offended. Such notions -- that all Jews are smart, or all natives are honest, or all blacks are musical, or all women are nurturers -- are just logic undisturbed by experience. Still, romanticizing someone or something means not to let it be as it is, but to lay one's own fantasy on it; it is intrusive and insulting. I don't know why, but that seems such a hard idea for many of my fellow wasichus to grasp. I'm no genius, but at least I get that.

Thanks for opening up this conversation.

(You may publish this.)

From: Lauren Mackey cheerchick73@hotmail.com
Sent: Friday, May 21, 1999

Here is something that I wrote a while ago. Feel free to post it on your site.

It's all falling into Place

The hostility that a lot of natives have towards white people has become more comprehensible, clearer than ever before...I understand now why white liberals get such a bad rap, why Native books written by Anglo authors are such a sensitive subject, and why those with a small degree of Indian blood are a nuisance.

Why do white liberals get such a bad rap in the Native American community? After all, they are on the Native's side, right? The reasons for the bad rap are infinite. White liberals include, but aren't limited to: new agers, hippies, AIM supporters, sympathetic celebrities, anthropologist "friends", and intellectuals. In general, white liberals focus on the Indians of the past, and block out the present day issues, like the high rate of fetal alcohol syndrome, suicides, living with stereotypical images, or struggling to get by after the government issued necessities run out for the month. Instead, we're too busy talking about how we screwed up in the nineteenth century. We read books written by Anglo authors because they aren't harsh on white liberals. In these books, the white liberals are the heroes. Books written by Native authors tend to be harsh on all white people because white people have everything, and most are absolutely clueless about present day Indian affairs. Very blunt, very honest, absolutely no reserve. It's also not as embarrassing to be blatantly clueless in front of a fellow white liberal than an Indian. So, as a result, we're more clueless than before, yet we think we know it all, and we end up doing more harm than good.

Did you ever realize that Dances With Wolves, or any romance novel with heroic Indian characters would be offensive? Yep, they are. The characters, no matter how kindly portrayed, still give Indians a subhuman image, and they aren't really about natives anyway. The main characters are usually innocent white school teachers who scream out in "primitive ecstasy" when some random half-breed warrior sweeps them off their feet. When the main characters do happen to be native, they think with the white world view, with a few random words in a particular tribal language thrown in to humor the history buffs. Then, as a result, if you're an Indian male, you have a plethora of white females wanting to date you because of the way some flighty Anglo author portrayed your race.

Why would those who want to know more about their Indian ancestry who are less than 1/8 be a nuisance? Generally, these people claim to have such and such blood quantum in one tribe, and then practice the customs and religion of another. They read all these books written by Anglos, perceive real Indians to be something they're not, and then proceed to tell the real McCoys that they are wrong. These 1/16-1/1600 bloods see the reservations as being some romantic place to visit, a place of religious experiences. They know nothing of the real deal, and they fail to understand that being Indian is not just the blood, but also living in that cultural context your whole life. Three months versus your whole life are two dramatically different things. Think about it. Wouldn't it annoy you if these Indians who were 1/32 white came up to you and told you that you weren't a real white person? That a real white person doesn't believe this or practice that? That a white person speaks perfect English, minus the slang? Or better yet, these people decide to come to Caldwell for a romantic religious experience??? Tons of white people do this to Indians daily.

The hostility, the amusement, and the annoyance natives have towards whites is felt with transparent reasoning. After all, white liberals are clueless, native books written by Anglo authors are misleading, and those who have a small degree of Indian blood think they know it all, but actually know nothing.

From: Cormac Boyle sine_cera@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 1999

You have my permission to post this.

I do not practice any Native Religious ways. I was born in America, but my folks were born in Ireland. The Irish people, they once had a religion of their own, separate from a small Jewish holy man in the middle east, and they once had customs of their own, and even a language of their own; but after 800 years of oppression by the same mentality (not skin color or race)that has affected/is affecting the Native Americans, my people only know tatters about who they really are/were.

So, I guess, I'm starting off my wasicu statement on this declaration by saying because my Native Religious ways aren't Native American, they are Native Irish, in an Ireland where Celtic is the tongue and so is the heart. And I guess I'm doing that because to me, and every other Irishman/woman, at home or abroad, that Native Irish Religion is dead, or so badly mutated it might as well be dead. And so I see this declaration, and part of my says, this is great, Lakota, Nakota, Dakota people, hell all people who still have their native ways, fight for them, don't let them be exploited.

I mean all these "wannabees," so to speak, why do they even exist? Maybe that's a good question to ask. I sometimes think maybe because they don't have something to root themselves in; because they are obviously lost and searching. They don't have a rooted tradition. Maybe this is part of the sin that occurs when you uproot yourself from your people, travel thousands upon thousands of miles of water and land just to take over someone else's home: your children and your childrens children and so on lose who they are and start searching in other places. But then, sometimes I think maybe these wannabees, they are just trying to compensate for some national guilt they feel; like white kids dressing like black kids and talking like black kids. They just want to alleviate their guilt about what's been done to the Native of the Americas by becoming one of them. I guess they don't realize it isn't that easy. Maybe its a mental thing. After destroying something or someone for so long you just turn around and starting whorship that someone or something. I mean, after all, this is a society who whorships Jesus, a man whom (symbollically) humanity killed. Maybe its just bred in the bones.

Either, thanks for letting me, a wasicu speak my mind, for what that is worth I don't know, and rock on with your declaration. If nothing else, it will inform some that they should find another means to find the scared in life.

Cormac, which means son of the raven in the Irish language

From: Holly Goodwin Lacewoman@webtv.net
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 1999

Cultural imperialism is always objectionable. As a witch I am frustrated by New Agers assimilating my beliefs and selling them. You can't buy or sell spirit.

I am angered by the destruction of my religion and culture . Of course First Nations people are angry. They have the right. Get over it.

Living religions do change and evolve. They nearly killed off Wicca, but it has rebounded. If my rites are in modern English, written by myself and my fellows, it only proves that our religion is alive and growing.

I hope the Lakota religion continues to grow in strength and beauty. While uncomfortable with the word War (is this why it was used?), at least the statement signers had the grace to declare war openly, unlike the US government.

May there be peace between Green Thunder Coven and the Lakota.

You have my permission to post this statement.

From: UberGeek binar@ao.net
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 1999

You may reprint this article, however you like.

I am deeply saddened, both by this statement, and by the situation which made it seem necessary to those who wrote it. It hurts not only personally-- since several generations separate me from the Sioux mother I am fiercely proud and fond of-- but also spiritually. The thing I had come to respect most about the culture I thought I was beginning to understand has evaporated.

The thing most important to me about the Lakota was the open heart, the open hand. "We are all one people." The words turn bitter in my mouth as I try to speak them. I was eager to learn about the things that were important to them because I respected their wisdom so greatly. I was not eager to steal, malign, or desecrate anything... and yet I feel among those "non-Indians" you attack in this declaration.

There are so few cultures that survive without hypocrisy and bitterness. There is no denying that we have all been poorly treated by history, that none of us were protected the way we should have been from the relentless destruction Time and humanity are capable of. I respected the Lakota so much for surviving the degradation, desecration, and declination that have been dealt to Buddhism, Tibet, the Hindu, and all manner of ancient cultures as deserving of respect, and not resorting to... well, this, I suppose. The relentless spirit of wisdom, vision, and acceptance that I came to understand does not fit with this attack.

Even a child understands that a spring cannot produce both bitter water and sweet. And if the source-- the tribal elders and leaders who lay claim to this culture as their own-- is filled with such bitterness... well, I will NOT identify with that.

I still respect the individuals who have shown me a different face to this culture, but I feel cut off from the kinship I felt, since most of my own philosophies seemed so compatible. An attempt to cut off understanding from others based on their blood, an attempt to choke off the flow of wisdom, a spirit that would exclude and isolate itself... none of these are compatible to anything I believe. I am deeply sorry for your troubles, and even more sorry that they have drawn this venomous reaction from you. I do not think it will serve you in any way, for what it's worth, but only widen the rifts that cause people to seek the commercial version because the genuine culture is inaccessible.

From: Wbandjp@aol.com Wbandjp@aol.com
Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999

Please feel free to post this message on the website

I have some questions regarding the declaration, as I am unclear as to the intent.

Does this apply to all non-Lakota/Dakota/Nakota practitioners of Lakota/Dakota/Nakota 'spirituality'?

Are other Native Americans subject to this, or exempt?

What about people studying other aspects of Lakota/Dakota/Nakota culture?

Does it apply only to those who call themselves Shamans, Holy men/women, Wicasa Wakan, etc. or perform ceremonies for a fee?

The reason for these questions is that I am a "Buckskinner" of Irish descent. (a Buckskinner is a person who participates in living history events and encampmants or 'rendezvous' recreating the fur trade era, roughly from 1750 to 1840.) The [mostly] men who 'explored' the western 'frontiers' were greatly influenced in every aspect of their lives by the people they came in contact with, and often dressed in native fashion, often marrying native women. During the course of the past 14 years, my 'interpretation' has moved towards a Lakota influence, to the degree that I've been trying to learn the Language, although without any teachers, or even recordings. I have considered even doing a straight Lakota impression from time to time, but have not yet done so, as I do not wish to give offense, or the impression that I am either mocking, or trying to actually pass myself off as Lakota. I am constantly working towards improving the accuracy of my wardrobe and equipment.

I have no desire to 'steal' from anyone, and try to accord the Lakota the respect I would ask in return. ( though it may not make any difference, some of my gear is influenced by dreams, though not deviating from what my research has shown- one odd note; I once saw a print in a tobacco shop- the man on horseback was wearing my outfit- even to the green-painted shoulders and the pattern of the beadwork. I'm not saying this has any meaning, but it did give me a chill. I don't know if the artist was Lakota, but the subject definitely was.)

If what I have described is offensive to anyone, I am sorry. I have no desire to oppress, or to perpetuate ethnic stereotypes. ( as an Irishman, I neither drink nor fight- although I am inordinately fond of potatos and cable-knit sweaters) I suppose one could not say conclusively without seeing my interpretation, but I would like to know- does this offend any of you who are Lakota? What about participating in a re-enactment of the Little Big Horn in the role of a Lakota? Do Lakota ever participate in such re-enactments? Also, I have occasionally informally used the name "Miyasleca Witko" (Crazy Coyote) does this give offense

I used the name 'Crazy Coyote' not in a Lakota impression, but as a Mountain Man 'alias', and went by the english version, just translating during the course of my efforts to learn Lakota.

Please feel free to e-mail me with your opinions (Lakota only, please- they're the ones whose traditions I might offend) and please understand that I am sincere in my questions. Even if you think I'm the worst fat-stealer (Wasicu) ever, let me know.

Pilamaya Buzz

The Seal of Creighton University
This page is managed by
Rev. Raymond A. Bucko, S.J.
of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
at Creighton University.

E-Mail: bucko@creighton.edu

Page Last Updated: January 2, 2004